June 29, 2010

Senate Hopeful Mark Kirk ’81 Apologizes for Embellishing His Record

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk ’81 publicly apologized Tuesday for being “careless” in describing his military service and background, after a series of embellishments were revealed that could threaten his bid for President Barack Obama’s former seat.

As Kirk apologized, however, he also acknowledged something his campaign had flatly denied just two weeks ago — that he was twice scolded by the Pentagon for improperly mingling politics with his military duties. He also tried to address criticism that he has made too much of his past teaching experience, including time he claimed he spent as a teacher at an Ithaca nursery school while attending Cornell.

He and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois’ first-term state treasurer, are locked in a tight race for a seat in one of the highest-profile Senate races in the country. Obama held the seat for four years before winning the White House, and a Democratic loss would be a major embarrassment to the administration.

“We are very happy that he joins us and we are looking forward to see him play in the German Beko BBL as well as in the prestigious Eurocup competition,” the team’s public relations officer Björn-Lars Blank stated in an email. “Our head coach John Patrick points out that (for him) Dale was one of the best PGs in the NCAA Tourney.